So small that fans seeing him in a post parade sometimes wondered if the stable pony had been sent out by mistake, Sarazen defied conventional wisdom in both physique and pedigree. As legendary owner-breeder-trainer John Madden said, “When a man can breed a Quarter Horse to a plow mare and get a horse that can beat everything in America, it's time for me to sell out.” Sired by a horse notorious for stopping in the stretch out of a mare so little thought of that legend has it she was put to farm work, Sarazen proved able to handle the best bluebloods that could be thrown at him at distances up to 10 furlongs. He maintained top-class form for four consecutive seasons before his cantankerous disposition finally got the better of him, forcing his retirement.

Race record

55starts, 27wins, 2seconds, 6thirds, US$225,000

1923:

Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)

Won Oakdale Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)

Won National Stakes (USA, 6FD, Laurel)

Won Laurel Special (USA, 6FD, Laurel)

Won Fall Serial #2 (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)

1924:

Won Carter Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)

Won Mount Vernon Handicap (USA, 8FD, Empire City)

Won Fleetwing Handicap (USA, 6FD, Empire City)

Won Saranac Handicap (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)

Won Huron Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)

Won Manhattan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)

Won Arverne Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)

Won International Special #3 (USA, 10FD, Latonia; new track record 2:00-4/5)

Won Maryland Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)

3rd Fall Highweight Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)

1925:

Won Dixie Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)

Won Fleetwing Handicap (USA, 6FD, Empire City)

Won Arverne Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)

Won G. D. Bryan Memorial Handicap (USA, 8FD, Bowie)

3rd Capital Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)

1926:

Won Dixie Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)

Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)

Won Mount Vernon Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Empire City)

2nd Laurel Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)

Honors

National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1957)

American Horse of the Year (1924, 1925)

American champion 3-year-old male (1924)

American champion handicap male (1925, 1926)

Assessments

Sarazen was rated #92 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).

Ranked fourth among American juveniles of 1923 by The Blood-Horse.

As an individual

A chestnut gelding, Sarazen stood 15 hands. He had a mulish head and light neck but was very well balanced with powerful hindquarters and a straight, strong hind leg. He was slightly upright and rather short in his front pasterns but had excellent action. In the later part of his racing career, Sarazen earned the nickname "Sulky Sara" for his sullen refusal to engage in racing and had to be blindfolded to even get him onto the track.

Connections

Foaled in Kentucky, Sarazen was bred by Dr. Marius E. Johnson. He was purchased for US$2,500 in a package deal with another yearling, Time Exposure, by Colonel Phil Chinn, who owned and trained Sarazen through the gelding's first three starts. He then sold Sarazen for US$35,000 to Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt III, who raced Sarazen in the name of her Fair Stable. Following his sale, Sarazen was trained by Max Hirsch through his first start at 7; he was trained by A. B. Gordon for the remaining four starts of his career. After his retirement, Sarazen was pensioned at Thomas Piatt's Brookdale Farm in Kentucky, where he was humanely destroyed on December 12, 1940.

Pedigree notes

Sarazen is inbred 5x5x4x5 to Himyar. He is a full brother to the stakes winner Adolphus and to That's That, dam of 1939 American champion 2-year-old filly Now What (by Chance Play) and second dam of two-time American champion filly Next Move.

Sarazen and his siblings were produced from Rush Box (by 1900 Carter Handicap winner Box), a mare who once changed hands for US$50. Rush Box, in turn, was produced from the Singleton mare Sallie Ward, whose dam Belle Nutter was sired by Faraday, a stakes-winning son of Himyar.

Fun facts

Sarazen was named for a famous golfer of the 1920s and 1930s, Gene Sarazen.

Undefeated as a juvenile, Sarazen capped 1923 by winning the Fall Serial #2 at Pimlico over older horses, a rare feat for a juvenile in a route race.

While Madden was technically correct as to Sarazen's having been bred by a man, the mating that produced the champion was actually planned by Elizabeth Daingerfield, who also managed the first and most successful years of Man o' War's stud career.

There is some dispute as to Sarazen's earnings. The Daily Racing Form and the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame credit him with US$225,000, while The Blood-Horse credits him with US$223,800.

Sarazen should not be confused with Sarazen II, another son of High Time who was foaled in 1927. While Sarazen II won stakes races at 2 and 3, he was a much inferior animal to the original Sarazen.